Employer / Salary Sacrifice
June 2, 2026
Public Sector Car Benefit Scheme | Scottish Borders Council
Public Sector Car Benefit Scheme | Scottish Borders Council
Scottish Borders Council Car Benefit Scheme Case Study – Driving long-term value with a flexible car benefit scheme
At a glance
- Organisation: Scottish Borders Council
- Sector: Public sector
- Employees: 5,100+
- Scheme launch: 2015
- Growth: 61 cars (Jan 2023) → 155 cars (Mar 2026)
“We’ve worked with Tusker for over 10 years, and the scheme continues to grow—employees really see the value in it.”
A workforce spread across borders
Scottish Borders Council supports over 5,000 employees, with the majority based across Scotland and a small number commuting from just over the English border.
With a largely hybrid workforce and many employees living in rural areas, travel needs vary. Some staff regularly commute longer distances, while others work predominantly from home. That mix made flexibility a key priority when introducing new benefits.
The challenge: strengthening employee benefits
The council wanted to strengthen its overall benefits offering in a way that felt meaningful, accessible and cost-effective for employees.
Like many public sector organisations, retention and recruitment were front of mind. The team wanted to give employees more choice and support, without adding complexity or cost pressure to the organisation.
The solution: a flexible car benefit scheme
Scottish Borders Council partnered with Tusker in 2015 to introduce a salary sacrifice car scheme as part of a wider benefits package.
The focus was simple:
- Make driving a car more affordable for employees
- Offer a benefit that works for different lifestyles
- Support long-term employee engagement
Since then, the partnership has continued to grow, with the council renewing its agreement and building the scheme into its wider benefits strategy.
Find out how salary sacrifice works
A scheme that works for everyone
The scheme has been designed to fit the council’s diverse workforce. While it isn’t limited to electric cars, the organisation has steadily reduced its CO2 limits – helping lots of employees move towards more efficient, lower-emission driving over time.
That balance and option for choice have been key in the success of this scheme; because even though the charging infrastructure is constantly evolving, longer journeys and charging access in a rural setting can influence that decision.
Simple to run, easy to manage
From an employer perspective, the scheme has been straightforward to manage.
- The entire process runs online, making it easy for employees to choose and order a car
- No additional headcount was needed to support the scheme
- Regular quarterly reviews with Tusker keep everything on track
Ian Angus, HR Shared Services Manager, shares; “The whole process is online, which makes it really seamless for employees to get started and we’ve been able to run the scheme with our existing team – it’s made it really simple to manage.”
The council also shares updates internally and with trade unions, helping maintain transparency and engagement across the organisation.
Real value for employees
For employees, the appeal is clear.
They can drive a brand-new car through a simple salary reduction, with everything included:
- Insurance
- Servicing and maintenance
- MOT
- Road tax
- Breakdown cover
That all-in-one approach gives people clarity and confidence. They know exactly what they’re committing to from day one, with no surprises later on.
Ian says, “Employees know exactly what they’re getting – everything’s included, and it’s all clear from the start.”
There are also savings through National Insurance and pension contributions, adding even more value.
Growing demand across the organisation
The scheme has seen strong and Scottish Borders Council and Tusker have seen consistent growth.
Car numbers have more than doubled in just over three years, and demand continues to rise. Ian explains, “The numbers speak for themselves – uptake has grown significantly, and it keeps building.”
Even more telling is the level of repeat uptake. Employees aren’t just trying the scheme – they’re coming back for their next car, and some drivers are even choosing more than one.
Word of mouth has played a big role too, with uptake spreading across all levels of the organisation, including senior leaders.
The impact on recruitment and retention
By introducing Tusker’s car benefit scheme, Scottish Borders Council has:
- Strengthened its overall benefits package
- Supported recruitment and retention
- Helped employees access more affordable driving
- Taken steps towards lower-emission travel
All while keeping things simple and cost-effective internally.
Ian Angus ends with, “It’s helped us strengthen our benefits and give employees something meaningful that supports them day to day.”
Looking ahead
With steady growth, strong engagement and a long-standing partnership in place, the scheme continues to play an important role in the council’s benefits strategy.
As more employees explore lower-emission options, the council is well positioned to keep supporting that shift at a pace that works for its workforce.